WARRANT: SCOTUS denies Ford's petition and application for a stay

James Ford's execution is scheduled for February 13. This afternoon, the U.S. Supreme Court denied Ford's petition for a writ of certiorari and application for a stay.

James Ford’s execution is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. tomorrow, February 13, 2025—the first for the State in 2025.

Ahead of his execution, Ford filed a two-count successive motion for postconviction relief in the circuit court. After denying Ford’s request for an evidentiary hearing,¹ the circuit court denied Ford’s motion. Ford appealed to the Florida Supreme Court, raising three claims. (More on Ford’s arguments in his Initial Brief here.) He also filed a motion to stay the execution and send the case back to the circuit court, which the Court denied. On Friday, the Court affirmed the circuit court’s denial of Ford’s claims.

Over the weekend, Ford filed a petition for a writ of certiorari and application for stay of execution at the U.S. Supreme Court.² Briefing was completed yesterday afternoon. This afternoon, the Court denied Ford’s application and petition. There were no dissents.

At this point, Ford does not have any more pending claims to stop the execution—unless something unforeseen arises before Thursday evening.

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TFDP Prior Coverage of the Ford Warrant

• Warrant signed

• Background on Ford’s case

• Circuit court’s scheduling order

• Ford’s postconviction motion

• Circuit court denies evidentiary hearing on motion

• Circuit court denies Ford’s postconviction motion

• Ford’s Initial Brief

• State’s Answer Brief and Ford’s Motion to Stay

• Court denies Motion to Stay

• Florida Supreme Court affirms denial

• Ford files petition at SCOTUS

• State’s answer to Ford’s petition

• Ford’s Reply

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My thoughts are with everyone involved in the warrant- and execution-related process.

1. Read more on the circuit court’s denial of an evidentiary hearing here.

2. You can read more on Ford’s petition and application for stay here. You can read about the State’s response here. Yesterday’s post did not include the State’s response to Ford’s application for a stay, but it is on the docket as well.